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Okay, let me say it right away: When I read the songlist for the first time about a week before the CD was released, I was disappointed. I've been expecting a lot more Now, and not quite that much Then. Where were all the songs from the Copa: "Try A Little Tenderness," "River Deep, Mountain High" and "Mack the Knife"? Where are all the good songs David has included on his "Then And Now Tour" this year: "Hollywood Nights" and the new funky version of "C'Mon Get Happy"? Where are the new songs that David said he has written with his wife sue?
     When I put the CD in my CD player and started listening to it, I was even more disappointed. Where was the slow ballad version of "I Think I Love You" that was announced to be on the CD? Instead there were old Partridge Family classics that almost sounded like the originals. Just a little more mature David Cassidy singing them.
     But who was the CD made for? It was released in the U.K. for the old fans who have been requesting his old albums rereleased on CD. That didn't happen because of a dispute between David and Arista Records, who owns the rights to David's albums from 1970 to 1985. So instead, for now, fans have to settle with "Then And Now."
     I've been following David for almost thirty years, and expected something else. The fans who've been waiting for his oldest albums to be rereleased, they've got what they wanted.
     I have a feeling that the Partridge Family classics are the same as were recorded for the NBC TV movie "The David Cassidy Story" that aired in America in January 2000. "The Last Kiss" is the same one that was released in 1985 on the "Romance" album, and "No Bridge I Wouldn't Cross," "Sheltered In Your Arms" and "Ricky's Tune" are the same versions as on the "Old Trick, New Dog" album from 1998.
     So what's new for the old fans who have all his albums? One song that fans have requested since he first did it on tour about ten years ago, "Cry." An excellent song that David does so well. Still, I think it has more feeling to it when he does it live. Then there's "Ain't No Sunshine" that David sung on an HBO Drew Carey Special a couple of years ago. Also a great song that belongs on a CD with David.
     So, are all the other songs just "the same old ones"? Not really. My favorite, "Rock Me Baby" has never been this good. It has a rougher edge to it. "Cherish" has same new rhythm, that he does live, even though the live version is better in my opinion (Gee, David, why don't you make a live album again, it's about time  ). "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat" also has a different sound to it. Also included on the CD is David's duet with the British band Hear'Say on "Could It Be Forever," a song that also will be performed on "Hear'Say - It's Saturday" on ITV on October 6.
     It's not a bad CD. I'm sure a lot of his fans will love it. It's just that I expected David to make some more Now, and make the Then to sound more like Now. Still, I can't wait till his next CD.

PS! I'm sure all female fans will love the booklet that comes with the CD.

Can I tell you why I love David's new CD, especially "Then"?  In the year 2000, through the Internet, I became reacquainted with David and his music in a big way.  Now, I'm not saying I'd forgotten about him from 1974 on.  As a US fan, I bought his album "Romance" through an import record shop in 1985; in 1990, when David released his "comeback" album, I was lucky enough to speak with him on an NYC radio station.  But the Internet gave me the chance to connect with great DC-related websites (such as yours!) and other fans.  In many ways, it made me feel like an early-seventies teenybopper again ... only better.

"Then and Now" is the perfect soundtrack for this DC revival in my life.  The arrangements are enough like the originals to sound like musical comfort food, but David's singing the songs now, which is an improvement in my view.  After all, the current David Cassidy is the one I've seen in concert, the one whose hand I shook!  If I want to hear the old albums, I can always dig out the tapes I made from them years ago.  I think the newer arrangements are an improvement over the original ones.

Lots of fans have mentioned the lack of new material in this CD; there's plenty of time for David to record new songs, and we should leave the timing up to him. These songs are the classics.  The touchstones of our lives.  "It's One Of Those Nights" has always been a favorite, and him sing it today was very emotional for me.  And the way he's improved upon "Rock Me Baby" ... well, I won't elaborate.

I'd recommend "Then and Now" to the DC completist or casual fan.  It has something for everyone, and is more than enough to hold us over until David writes new music.

I was delighted to hear a new cd was to be released.But ,for me this isn,t new. I have most of the tracks several times over. They may be remixed versions but I really wanted totally new material that I hadn,t heard before. For people who were fans years ago and have recently re discovered David this will be wonderful for them and certainly will increase his profile with them prior to his concerts.These people may not have heard his cd's such as "Old Trick New Dog".

I am happy to see David on UK tv and radio again -- it has been along time and I am sure his concerts will contain some of the new material I am keen to hear. I hope I don,t seem too disappointed-- I love the new version of "Cherish","Lying to myself " and "Rock me Baby". "Ain,t no Sunshine" also makes me weak at the knees. I shall enjoy playing this cd many times over and I am sure it will be a big success for David. Any David is good David for me but a little more "Now" would have been appreciated by this aged fan!!

I am sure David has lots of other projects in mind and hopefully this is the start of lots more things to come!

I love Rock Me Baby most of all.  He sounds so sexy, what more can I say!

Cherish gives me chills, as it always has.  The world's best song.

Why the hell did he change the words from "Denver" to "Memphis" in Some Kind of Summer????  Bad enough he doesn't come to Denver all year, WAAAAAAA

Could It Be Forever with Hear'say...I LOVE IT!!  Those kids have great voices and it's a nice sound.  I'm glad we get the DC only version too.  They're both great.

It's One Of Those Nights...his voice is beautiful on this.

I really love the entire CD and we are so lucky to get 22 songs.  Sorry, but I'm not disappointed AT ALL!!!

As with Rob, I think ITILY has been done over a little too much now.  Was a little disappointed when I read that ITILY, I Woke Up in Love This Morning, It's One of Those Nights, I'll Meet You Halfway, and I Can Feel Your Heartbeat were taken from the David Cassidy Story.  I thought that all of them were redone for this CD.

I love Could It Be Forever, both versions.  Hear'Say adds alot to that song, very good voices.  Does anyone own any of HearSay's CDs?  Was wondering how good they were?  I would like to hear other songs by them.  And when David sings the word "But" in Could It Be Forever, it still turns me on.  I love Daydreamer and Some Kind of a Summer, If I Didn't Care, Cry, Rock Me Baby, especially the talking parts.  He has a way with words and how he says them.  Cherish, I love, but I love his live version better, more seductive.

Now, I may be wrong, but weren't these songs supposed to be remakes.  Personally, The Last Kiss, No Bridge, Sheltered, and Ricky's Tune sound like the originals off of Romance and OTND.  But I still love The Last Kiss.  I think it comes in a slight tie with Cherish.  I am going to write DC.com again to see if David can play this in the USA.  All of us should write them.  I would love to hear him sing this live.

Love reading all the other reviews so here's mine too.

OK, first WHY not include all the lyrics? Pics are good though. Nice insert and design overall, clean, neat. I noticed the CD got better as I listened. Please no more I think I love You! LOL I didn't care for the background singers, but liked that the songs were similar to originals. Would rather they be new only if new songs (with FEW exceptions) LOVED Rock Me Baby! That man can't seem to do this one other than raw and sexy! Thank god!!!! lol. Only ones I didn't really care for were I Write The Songs, Heartbeat and Lyin To Myself...... CANNOT improve on perfection. I liked Summer.....as to "Memphis"...maybe a reference or tribute to Elvis??? still catch myself saying Denver when singing along lol. Lookin Thru The Eyes Of Love...FANTASTIC! even background singers not bad. I'll Meet You Halfway still gave me that sinking, good goose bumply relaxed feeling right from the piano start, again glad it was close to original. David did a good job with these songs making them sound almost like Then with his Now voice...great combo! LOVE Last Kiss, sexy and breathy, his style...never heard this one before, nice touch to add riff from beginning of the Daydreamer CD. Cry is GREAT, I've never heard this one before either..guitar cool! voice perfect! REPLAY! nuff said.... next.... Always a treat to hear No Bridge and Sheltered again, great for any UK fans who haven't heard them before. Ricky's Tune...I have liked this one just as much as the original. They seem like 2 different songs from different times in his life. Both are original to me. And special also for my own reasons. I was pleasantly surprised at the DC/Hear'say collaberation at the end...they did that song justice when it was great to begin with.

All in all I like this CD, I have most of these songs on other CD's but glad to see DC putting forth his own compilation in his own way. Now.....next??? no pressure of course LOL After hearing what David can do with Last Kiss, Cry, and his other previous solo efforts I am looking forward to more "NOW" This is just a tease! lol

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